Government shutdown jeopardizes Navy-Air Force football game

Intercollegiate sports events at the U.S. service academies are in jeopardy because of the government shutdown. (Source: Twitter/NAVYAthletics)

(RNN) - Saturday's sold-out football game between Navy and the Air Force Academy may be canceled because of the government shutdown.

The decision on whether to play or not will come before noon Thursday, according to a news release on Navysports.com. Last year Navy won the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy, which is awarded to the service academy team with the best record against the other two.

The Navy-Air Force game is sold out and scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET in Annapolis, MD. CBS is set to broadcast the game, but spokeswoman Jen Sabatelle told USA Today that the network is working on alternate programming if the game is canceled.

Navy Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk told The Washington Post that the timing is, to say the least, an inconvenience.

"At this stage we're taking it basically a half a day at a time, holding our breath that they can bring it to resolution," Gladchuk told the Post. "The game on Saturday, I mean it's a huge issue. The stage is set for one of the most significant event statements we've had in a long time, so the timing couldn't be worse."

According to the news release, the Department of Defense has suspended all intercollegiate competition at all three service academies. Army is set to play at Boston College this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Navy's soccer game with Howard scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled and there's no word on if it will be rescheduled.

Tony Garnhart, an associate athletics director for Air Force, told USA Today that the academy hopes to play all home athletic contests, but those may be canceled as well.

"Academy officials are working with Mountain West Conference officials, those teams the Falcons were scheduled to play and officials at The Department of the Air Force to make up as many games as possible," Garnhart said in an email.